Clients benefit from having two therapists

ADDICTION PSYCHIATRY

What is Addiction Psychiatry?

Addiction Psychiatry is a branch of mental health care that addresses the treatment of substance-related disorders caused by intoxication, substance withdrawal, misuse/abuse, and dependence upon legal and/or illegal substances. A relatively recent development in the branch of medicine, Addictionology combines evidenced-based treatment and involves multidisciplinary teams in the treatment of substance use disorders.

How It Works

Evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as pharmacotherapies and behavioral therapies are used to treat addiction to opioid, tobacco, alcohol and other substances while treating spectrum disorders and co-occurring disorders (also known as dual diagnosis disorders). Some of the techniques include the following:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Psycho-neuroplasticity (PNP)

Family Behavior Therapy

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Contingency Management Interventions

Medical Detox

Relapse Prevention

Types of Disorders

Individuals who come in for substance abuse treatment often need dual diagnosis treatment for disorders that may be associated with drug or alcohol abuse.

Co-Occurring Disorder – Also known as a dual disorder, a co-occurring disorder is a mental or physical condition that is diagnosed along with a substance use disorder and it often impairs one’s ability to function in one’s personal and professional life.

Spectrum Disorder – Characterized as part of a group of disorders sharing certain symptoms that occur on a continuum, one spectrum disorder’s features can vary widely from another spectrum disorder in markedly different degrees. Examples of spectrum disorders include anxiety, dissociation, obsessions and compulsions, psychosis, mood disorders, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD – formerly known as ADD).

Medication Management is the administration of medicine under the supervision of an addiction psychiatrist who ensures that the symptoms of the disorder are treated while preventing addiction to prescription medication. Often used for long-term treatment for opiate addiction, medication-assisted treatment manages withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The purposes of medication management are described below:

Medical Detox. During the detox process, medication such as Suboxone is administered to diminish and manage withdrawal symptoms. This helps prevents relapse during detox.

Relapse Prevention. At New Method Wellness, we use non-narcotic medicines such as Vivitrol injections and Naltrexone tablets to reduce the cravings. Medications are used in conjunction with psychotherapy to optimize treatment outcomes.

Psychotherapy, a form of professional therapeutic interaction, involves the use of psychological methods to assist a person in changing his ways and overcoming problems to achieve the desired results. Benefits of psychotherapy include reduced troublesome behavior and beliefs, increased social skills, improved relationships and overall improvement in the individual’s well-being,

Management of Co-occurring Conditions. Substance use disorders are often linked to mental health disorders such as depression, post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Psychiatric medications are used to manage co-occurring conditions to maximize the effects of substance abuse treatment

Psychotherapy, a form of professional therapeutic interaction, involves the use of psychological methods to assist a person in changing his ways and overcoming problems to achieve the desired results. The multifaceted benefits of psychotherapy can be seen in various ways, such as:

Improvement in an individual’s overall well-being

Reduced troublesome behavior, thoughts and beliefs

Increased social skills and relationships

New Method Wellness highly emphasizes individualized treatment with a 2:1 ratio for all clients. Each client benefits from having two therapists who focus primarily on his or her wellness. This 2:1 ratio, unique only to New Method Wellness, is responsible for the high success rate for our clients who have benefited from our psychotherapeutic techniques which include group therapy, family behavior therapy, and one-on-one sessions.

About Dr. Nishant Kumar, D.O. – Consulting Addiction Psychiatrist

At New Method Wellness, Dr. Kumar’s extensive professional experience and excellent Addictionology training at one of the country’s most distinguished institutions bring much value to our recovery community. Dr. Kumar works alongside other board certified substance abuse experts to diagnose and treat co-occurring disorders and underlying mental health issues.

Dr. Kumar received his psychiatry residency training at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, and served as the Academic, Research and Administrative Chief Resident. After successful completion of his advanced training in Addiction Psychiatry, Dr. Kumar has been part of the Medical Staff and supervises psychiatrists in training.

An approved, licensed buprenorphine provider and board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Kumar has extensive experience working with inpatients and outpatients with regard to treatment of substance abuse disorders, eating disorders, Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD), Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety, depression, memory disorders and other neurological/spectrum disorders. In addition to his clinical skills, he is actively involved in Addiction Medicine and other addiction-related research and is currently a Principal Investigator for Friends Research Institute in Torrance, California.